Chapter 8
Daniel rarely got hit. It wasn’t that people never took a swing at him, they did. Too often for his taste. But he had an uncanny ability to sense when someone was about to punch him and he was usually able to get out of their way. He’d been so overjoyed and so relieved to see Hugh had been saved from the witch’s curse that his guard was down.
“Bloody hell,” he said, cupping his nose. It had to be broken. Blood dripped between his fingers. “What was that for?”
Hugh leaped at him but a woman grabbed his arm, shouting about a promise. Hugh stopped trying to tear him to pieces and only stood and glared at him now. His nostrils flared as he seethed with rage.
“You dare to ask me what that was for?” His voice rose with every word until he was bellowing, his fists clenching again.
Jade handed Daniel a towel and he pressed it to his throbbing nose. He honestly didn’t know why he was being attacked, but didn’t dare ask again. Thankfully Jade stepped up for him.
“Goodness,” she said, waving at Seda to corral Hugh to a chair, or at least beyond hitting range of Daniel. “What’s gotten into him?”
“He’s mad about the gold,” Seda said, keeping a firm grip on Hugh’s arm.
“And the betrayal,” Hugh added.
“Gold?” Jade asked.
“Betrayal?” Daniel was completely dumbfounded.
Hugh took several large breaths, blowing out like a bull about to charge. “You’re still pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about? Did getting your comeuppance make you forget your treachery?”
Now Daniel saw red. “Are you saying I deserved being cursed to five centuries of a living nightmare? After what I did— tried to do for you?”
“What did you do but steal my share of the fortune and make off with my betrothed?” He paused for a moment, wringing his hands. “Perhaps you didn’t deserve quite what you got. I only say that because I experienced it myself. What you do deserve is—”
He lunged with his fists raised again, but Seda and Jade both jumped in the middle of them. Daniel reached for Jade to get her out of the way, but her damnable rule didn’t allow him to touch her. Hugh stopped short of knocking Seda’s head off and staggered back, shaking his head.
“My love, you must be careful. I could have hurt you.”
She slapped her hands on his chest and shoved him backward. “No hurting anyone. You got to break his nose, that’s going to have to be enough.”
He sat down on a chaise, back ramrod straight, staring daggers at Daniel. Seda daintily sat next to him and put a calming and hopefully restraining hand on his knee.
“Would you like some lemonade?” Jade asked awkwardly.
“No,” Hugh snapped. “What I would like is justice.”
“I’ll take some lemonade, thanks,” Seda said, gripping his knee until her knuckles turned white. “I thought we agreed he’d been punished enough. The gold is long gone. Get over it.”
Daniel warily took a seat and nodded. “That’s true enough about the gold.” He was just as bitter about that as Hugh. “I imagine the witch must have searched the ship and taken it for herself. It would have funded her evildoing for a good, long time.”
“You needn’t look so sour about it,” Hugh griped. “It wasn’t as if it was yours to begin with. Is stealing from a thief really stealing?”
“It was half mine,” he argued, fed up with his old friend. If the women weren’t around he’d be happy to let Hugh start swinging again. He wouldn’t mind finishing that fight at all. “And I didn’t steal it. We were meant to meet up in Italy. I was keeping it safe for you.”
Hugh started to stand but Seda yanked him back down. “Keeping it safe?” he thundered. “From its rightful owner? Were you also keeping my beloved safe from having a life with me?”
If Daniel hadn’t been partly responsible for breaking most of the the pottery during his tussle with Reynolds, he would have tossed a pot in his fury.
“What are you on about, Hugh? I was trying to save you from her.” He stopped, thinking of the witch’s taunts. “I didn’t know it was too late until we were on the ship, halfway to Italy. I didn’t know what she truly was until she threw it all in my face. Right before she cursed me.”
Hugh looked like he might burst rather than show curiosity. “She told me you wooed her away from me. Told me how you both laughed about running away together. Right before she cursed me.”
“I’m sorry I was too late, my friend.”
There was a long silence as the men ruminated about their sorry pasts. Finally Seda spoke up. “If you didn’t know she was a witch, what were you trying to save him from?”
Her tone was merely inquisitive, but Hugh jumped in with accusations. “Yes. Indeed. I almost got caught up in your web. If you didn’t know she was a witch, didn’t know she would curse me, what were you trying to save me from?”
Daniel sighed. “I saw her trolloping with another man in a tavern near the docks.”
“Not another one,” Seda groaned, putting her head in her hands.
“Do you think she cursed someone else?” Jade asked, putting down her untasted cupcake.
“Please. Let me continue,” Daniel begged, feeling like he might be breaking through Hugh’s anger. His jaw wasn’t clenched so tightly anymore and his hands lay loose in his lap.
“Go on, then,” Hugh said. “You say she was untrue?”
“Worse than untrue. Far, far worse. A harlot of the first order. I asked around, in case my eyes were deceiving me. In fact, it was John Archer who told me how many times he’d seen her at that tavern. You recall that miscreant John, don’t you? Wasn’t he the one you hired to—”
Hugh stood up so fast he knocked over the small glass table that held the refreshments. Cupcakes rained down into the pool and the lemonade pitcher shattered. Jade groaned and closed her eyes, probably grateful they weren’t inside. Before Daniel could jump out of the way, Hugh had his hands wrapped around his throat.
“Not another word!” He thrust Daniel backwards, away from the women. His eyes no longer shot fiery arrows of rage. He seemed terrified of something all of a sudden. “Do not even take another breath,” he hissed. Turning around, he waved away the women like they were flies. “Go inside at once.”
“Uh, no way,” Jade said, taking her phone out of her pocket. “Broken furniture is one thing but I’m not having anyone get killed out here.”
“Hugh, calm down,” Seda begged.
Hugh widened his eyes beseechingly at Daniel. “I will let go, but not another word until they leave.” He seemed to hold his breath, his lower lip shaking, revealing his inexplicable fear. “If you ever had any true feeling for me as a friend, I beg you.”
Daniel couldn’t say anything since his windpipe was being crushed, but he nodded. Hugh released him and stepped away.
“We’re fine,” he said. “Seda, please let us have a bit of time alone. I promise I’m calm now.” He made a slight bow. “I beg your pardon. A moment of madness that has passed, I assure you.”
“Daniel?” Jade asked, holding up her phone questioningly.
“It’s fine. Give us some time.”
“I’m going to be watching,” Jade called as she led a tearful Seda up to the house.
Daniel saw that Hugh was trembling, his arms held tight around his middle.
“What in God’s name is it?” he asked. “Do you not believe me about the witch?” He snickered. “Isn’t it funny that I can’t recall her name?”
“It’s not amusing at all,” Hugh said, anxiously pacing. “It seems we’re destined to meet again if we continue to live in this town together. I can forgive you for the gold, forgive you for taking my betrothed—”
“I didn’t take her,” Daniel broke in.
Hugh shook his head. “Fine. What I’m trying to say is that none of that matters to me if you’ll only never tell Seda what I did.” He cleared his throat and looked like he might be ill. “Why I hired him. She’ll never understand. She’ll despise me.”
Daniel was shocked. So shocked he had to sit down. “She’ll do no such thing. You did what you had to do to protect your sister from that cad stealing her virtue and her fortune. She’ll think you’re a hero for hiring John Archer to get rid of him. And it all worked out in the end, anyway.”
Hugh made a choking sound and sat beside him on the same chaise. It was as if his legs had gone out from underneath him. Daniel took his arm and led him to the side of the pool, helping him to sit at the edge. He dunked his feet in, motioning for Hugh to do the same. Hugh gazed unseeing into the distance, but wordlessly took off his shoes and put his feet in the water. It seemed to break his daze.
“That’s refreshing,” he said in a weak voice.
“Shall we get the ladies to rejoin us?” Daniel asked, not sure Hugh was recovered from what had him so spooked.
He turned to him abruptly. “Promise you won’t speak of any of it. It wasn’t what I meant to happen. That man refused to listen to reason and wouldn’t leave my sister alone. But I didn’t mean— Seda will never think of me as a hero for committing murder.”
Daniel stared at him, more gobsmacked than when he’d gotten punched in the face. “What in blazes are you talking about?”
“I only meant for John to rough him up a bit and put him on a ship to the Orient so he could never return. And instead he murdered him. Stabbed him in the neck. My sister made herself sick from heartbreak. I found out she died only a year after I was cursed. It was all my fault, even though I didn’t wield the knife.”
“John Archer didn’t wield the knife either.” Daniel slapped his leg as he grasped Hugh’s confusion. “I meant to tell you when we were reunited in Italy, but of course that never happened. And that rascal John must have considered the job as good as done and kept your money, thinking you’d never be the wiser.” He sighed. “And it turns out you weren’t. How you must have tortured yourself all those years in the painting.”
Tears glistened in Hugh’s eyes. “What do you mean? Explain yourself better,” he said in a shaking voice.
Daniel would have laughed at the misunderstanding if it weren’t so tragic. “That villain who tried to abuse your sister was murdered before John could ever get near him. It seems he was setting your sister up for a lifetime of misery because he needed her fortune to pay off his gambling debts. But his lenders must have grown tired of waiting and took their payment in blood. Or else he finally got caught cheating. At any rate, he deserved what he got.”
“And I didn’t give it to him.” Hugh wiped his palm over his eyes.
“You did not, my friend. You are not, nor have you ever been, responsible for any man’s murder.”
Hugh shuddered into his hands, a small sob escaping. “You were right, I did torture myself. I hated that man, but… I’m so relieved. So very relieved.”
Daniel stood up and held out his hand to help Hugh to his feet. “Are we settled now? In fact, what do you think of starting our endeavors in this new time? Would you care to be partners again?”
Daniel was both sorry and glad to see the pale anguish Hugh had just sported on his face turn to the color of a vat of Burgundy grapes. He stepped back in case another punch was forthcoming.
“I would not care to, no,” he said. “And we are not settled yet. You still owe me what you stole. Oh, I beg your pardon, took for safekeeping.”
Daniel grimaced. It was an uneasy peace, but would have to be enough for the moment.
***
Jade kept her phone clutched tightly in her hand as she and Seda kept an eye on the veranda. If another fight broke out she was done. They could both rot in a modern prison, see how they liked that.
“It doesn’t look like they’re going to kill each other,” Seda said, moving away to sit on the couch. “What’s that yummy smell?”
Jade sniffed and the delicious aroma calmed her nerves a bit. She hadn’t gotten to take a single bite of cupcake before they got scattered into the pool. She huffed, mentally adding cleaning the pool to her list of grueling chores for Daniel.
“Daniel swore up and down he knew how to cook if I showed him how to use the stove. He wanted to make lunch for you two. I guess he was telling the truth because it does smell really good.”
“I really thought Hugh was over it or I wouldn’t have brought him,” Seda said apologetically.
“Daniel stole his gold, is that what it’s about?”
“Yes, and made off with his fiancée. So, do you feel any stirrings of true love yet?”
Jade burst out laughing and finally turned away from the window. “That was the worst segue ever.” She waved her ring hand around. “And no. Because I’m engaged to Reynolds. As you are well aware.”
“I’m really sorry if this is overstepping the client-designer boundaries, but Reynolds is an ass,” Seda replied tersely. “You’re way too good for him.”
Jade laughed again, this time without any humor. “Reynolds is in line to be a VP at his company one day. His family has been here since the gold rush days. They practically own half of California. How’s that not good enough? Daniel was a thief in his other life.”
“It was more like he was a pirate from what I’ve been told. He had a ship.”
“Well, even better, then,” Jade said with an eye roll. “And you think I ought to be in love with a pirate?”
“It isn’t me who thinks it,” Seda muttered. “It’s fate.”
Jade grumbled. “I don’t believe in fate.”
“I only meant I don’t think Reynolds is good enough for you because he doesn’t treat you well. How does Daniel treat you?”
“He’s perfectly civil, why wouldn’t he be?” she snapped.
Jade would never admit how mean Reynolds sometimes was to her. She could barely admit it to herself, always making excuses for him. Bailing on the gala wasn’t the first time he hadn’t been there for her. Not by a long shot. And Daniel had been so sweet, offering to go in Reynolds’ place. Of course he hadn’t been out of his painting in half a millenia, it could have been that he just wanted to dance the night away.
He hadn’t danced at all though, because she’d given him that idiotic no-touch command. She’d told him he could, had practically tried to shove him onto the dance floor, but he’d chivalrously told her he was her escort and would not shame her by dancing with another woman. That had led her to not wanting to leave him alone at their table, so she hadn’t danced at all, either.
Jade found her mind drifting back to the reason for the no-touch rule and felt her face go hot. That massage of his had been the closest to heaven she’d ever been and whenever it crossed her mind, which was way too often, she found herself wanting more. So much more.
If only he’d been a clod at the gala, boring or stupid, but he’d charmed everyone at their table. He drew people, women mainly, like flies to honey. She was quick to explain to everyone that he was her cousin to keep people from thinking she was no longer with Reynolds, but then they’d see it as an engraved invitation to flirt with him, much to her dismay.
Every time one of them put their manicured claws on his shoulder or forearm, she wanted to swat it, just as if they really were flies. But why did she care? He was in this time now, he may as well find a girlfriend. She had a bout of nausea at that thought, but why would her stomach care what he did? She pressed her middle and scowled, realizing Seda had been talking to her.
“Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you got this update from the Annabel Crime Alert. Didn’t you hear my phone go crazy just now? Their alert noise is so loud. I’m glad we don’t have much crime here or I’d have to turn the app off altogether.”
Jade shrugged. “I turn off all of those city or statewide alerts. It’s not as if I’d ever come across a missing senior or find the middle school bike bandit.”
“Jade! You should be more civic minded. Oh my God, this one’s actually something real.”
“It is? Well, read it.”
“Crap, it’s in your neighborhood, too. Do you know the Wakely’s?”
“Yes,” Jade said, getting up and wedging herself next to Seda to read over her shoulder.
“They’re three houses down the hill. I think they’re in Cabo right now for their niece’s wedding.”
“Well, that’s lucky for them,” Seda said ominously, holding up the phone so Jade could see.
It turned out three men had escaped Salinas Valley State Prison three days earlier and there had been a break-in at the Wakely’s house the night before. Four windows had been shattered, furniture had been smashed, and a small fire had been set in the living area. They were waiting on the Wakely’s to return to confirm if anything had been stolen, but the damage was severe.
“Nobody knows if it was these escaped convicts,” Jade said, glad she’d shelled out for a top-notch security system.
“Either way, it’s pretty scary. I hate to think what might have happened to those poor people if they’d been home. Good thing you have Daniel here.”
She made a face, angry at herself that she was also glad about that. And not necessarily because there might be violent criminals on the loose. She had to do something to nip this infatuation of hers in the bud.
“I wonder if Reynolds knows about this,” she said, also wondering why she hadn’t heard from him since the morning before when he’d walked off in a snit.
Could he possibly be mad at her? She had no earthly idea why, but decided the crime alert was the perfect excuse to send him a message. She tapped out an apology. For what, she had no idea, but it usually got him out of his sulks.
Did you hear about the break-in down the street? The suspects are still at large.
She sent it before she could directly ask him to come over, wanting him to offer. She didn’t need him, but she did want him there. She was tired of fighting. As soon as he came over, she’d tell Daniel he couldn’t love her and then send him away. She didn’t know why she hadn’t put that plan into action yet. Was she afraid she’d get another butt cramp and need him to massage it away? Was she hoping that?
Shivering, she hurriedly sent another message to Reynolds. Come over as soon as you can, okay? Don’t want to be alone.
Blech. She felt dirty, like she wasn’t being true to herself. But marriage was a compromise and she wanted to be married to Reynolds. Didn’t she?
The oven timer went off and Jade went to check on it while Seda called the men in. They were barely being civil, certainly not besties like Daniel had described to her. She felt a twinge of pity for him. He’d spent five hundred years worrying about a friend who punched him the moment they were together again. His nose was swollen and he already had the beginnings of two black eyes, but it somehow didn’t detract from his good looks. Either that or she was crazy.
She took out her phone again, frantically sending another message. Reynolds? Is everything okay? Just really worried over here, thinking I should go to your parents house until they catch those guys.
Double blech.
Daniel brought out a beautifully glazed and roasted ham, garnished with buttery carrots, and fluffy bread rolls on the side. He looked awfully pleased with himself, and she didn’t blame him.
“How did you do this? Are you magic?”
He laughed, sounding adorably stuffed up. His poor nose, she’d need to make him an ice pack and get some pain relievers in him. No, he was a grown man. He could figure it out on his own.
“I found this ham in your freezer. What a remarkable feat, being able to store food like that. And I made the rolls from ingredients in your larder.”
Seda giggled. “I didn’t think you’d have rolls in the house. I was surprised you got the cupcakes.”
“Everything in moderation,” Jade said by rote. “Shall we be casual and eat in the kitchen? I’d suggest the veranda but I wouldn’t want the ham to end up at the bottom of the pool.” She looked pointedly at Hugh, still irked she hadn’t gotten a single bite of those divine cupcakes.
Hugh frowned and took Seda’s hand. “Thank you, but we already have plans.”
“We do?” Seda asked, slapping her hand over her mouth. “I guess we do.”
“I no longer want to kill him, but that doesn’t mean I care to dine with him,” he said under his breath.
Jade pretended she didn’t hear and showed them to the door, not knowing if she should thank them for coming over or not. With all the hubbub, she still didn’t have any answers about what to do with Daniel. The aroma of the ham and freshly baked bread wafted into the front hall, making her stomach growl. She decided the only thing she was going to do at that moment was sit down and have a meal with him.